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Asked to comment on the citings, Ireland's Kearney told the Independent: "It doesn't surprise me, to be honest. What I would say is the citing officer picked out 12 incidents during the game. 11 of them referred to New Zealand. The one that referred to us was a clean-out of Sam Cane at a ruck and we were cleared of any foul play in that incident.

"It is disappointing to be honest. there were a number of tackles and bangs around the head. We received the edict from World Rugby in the last week or 10 days and Joe would have sat the squad down, showed them the various footage - including examples of tackles around the head and neck area.

"World Rugby had said, if these incidents occur then you are liable to a red card possibly. So that obviously didn't happen at the weekend.

"There was the yellow card for the high tackle on Simon Zebo and they are looking at the other incident involving Sam Cane and Robbie Henshaw.

"I don't think we are whinging at all. I think the facts speak for themselves. We don't cite anybody.

"We don't make complaints to the citing officer because at the end of the day they have the angles to look at the game.

Asked if the citings meant that referee Jaco Peyper had not done his job, he added: " I wouldn't say that, I mean obviously the citing commissioner has got the advantage of different views. He's got time, he's got 24 hours post-game to look right through the game forensically. I think it is difficult for a referee to pick up everything on the spot, he does depend on his TMO, he depends on his assistant referees to pick these things up as well."